As the weather gets chillier, options for drinking and dining at the Jersey Shore start to dwindle. In Stone Harbor, SAX Restaurant at The Reeds at Shelter Haven stays open all year, and it’s a great option for fine dining at the Shore during the fall and winter months.

SAX has transitioned its summer-only prix fixe menu to a new breakfast, lunch and dinner menu with upscale twists on classic dishes and familiar flavors. It also has a full bar with specialty cocktails, including several whiskey cocktails, wines by the glass, and a beer menu with something for all beer drinkers.

Featured whiskey cocktails include the Fig Sazerac made with Four Grain Journeyman Silver Cross Whiskey, Figenza Pernod, Hella Citrus Bitters, and lemon peel, the Whiskey Smash made with Bulleit, Avalon Beach plum jam, and Aperol, the Reeds Bourbon made with Cape May honey infused bourbon, vanilla, and lemon zest, and the Cherry Manhattan with Maker's Mark, Kaffa Cherry, sweet vermouth, dry vermouth, and aromatic bitters.

The bar is stocked with well-over 50 bottles of whiskeys and scotch with flights offered in one or two ounce pours. Choose from three curated bourbon flights, five curated single malt flights, an Irish whiskey flight, or a barrel aged flight.

The well-stocked bar also offers specialty cocktails featuring a variety of spirits including a Rosemary Pear Martini with Grey Goose Pear, Figenza Mediterranean Fig Flavored Vodka, rosemary syrup, and pear puree, the Rhubarb Crush with Rhubarb craft liquor, simple syrup, and grapefruit juice, a Fall Sangria with Pinot Grigio, Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey, apple liqueur, and ginger ale, and the Apple Cider Snap with Art in the Age Snap, old-fashioned apple cider, Rum Chata, Baileys, and maple syrup.

Toasts can be made with French Charles de Fere Reserve Brut by the glass. White wines by the single glass include California’s Raymond “R” Chardonnay, Les Vignobles Le Petit Gueissard Rose from Provence, Ca’donini Pinot Grigio from Italy, and Clean Slate Riesling from Germany. Reds include Raymond “R” Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, the Spanish Vina Bujanda from Rombauer Vineyards, and Ca’donini Pinot Noir.

Local Cape May Brewing Company IPA is on draft along with Dogfish Head Namaste, Yuengling, and Miller Light. Craft bottles include Dogfish Tweason’ale, Goose Island Sofie, and Rogue Dead Guy. The bar also stocks Coors Light, Budweiser, Corona Light, and Stella Artois in bottles.

In addition to the seasonal dining room menu, a special bar menu includes a Greek Mezze Plate, the SAX Burger with bourbon red onion marmalade and gruyere, a cheese plate, a charcuterie plate, and truffled mac and cheese.

SAX is open daily from morning through late evening to guests of the hotel and visitors alike. Breakfast is available from 8 until 11 AM daily, while lunch service runs from 11 AM until 4 PM, seven days a week. Dinner begins at 5 PM every day; it is served until 9 PM Sunday through Thursday and 10 PM on Fridays and Saturdays. The SAX Lounge is open for drinks from 4 PM until midnight Monday through Thursday and from noon until midnight Friday through Sunday.

If you’re looking for happy hour, the 4-6 Mix is served in SAX Lounge from 4 to 6 PM Monday through Thursday, and features select $3 domestic beers, $5 house wines, and $6 single-liquor cocktails

SAX Restaurant at The Reeds at Shelter Haven, 9601 Third Ave., Stone Harbor; 609-368-0100

Photos by Don Pearse